AI and the importance of data to pharma marketers
Tom Slowe dives into using AI to sort and sift statistics, the importance of combining context with data, and why AI should only be supplementary to human work (Issue #326, 915 words, 4.5 minutes)
Good morning, and welcome to the NPC Healthbiz Weekly e-newsletter from the National Pharmaceutical Congress and Chronicle Companies.
Data complexity in the life sciences and pharma can be a significant challenge. While artificial intelligence (AI) can streamline processes and uncover patterns that humans might miss, its role should be supplementary rather than replacing human expertise. That’s according to Tom Slowe, CEO of Breadcrumb Analytics of Buffalo, N.Y., who emphasized the importance of context in data interpretation and the ethical considerations surrounding AI during this episode of the NPC Podcast of the National Pharmaceutical Congress.
According to Slowe [pictured below], Breadcrumb Analytics was founded to address the burden of managing and interpreting immense, often disorganized datasets. “Healthcare data is pretty complex. People often forget how it’s configured and organized and what’s been done with it,” he said. “Breadcrumb set out to take that cognitive load off the people working with data, remembering everything and pointing them in the right direction so they can truly understand how they got the results they did.” He added that this approach allows users to focus on understanding results rather than struggling to recall how those results were achieved. The company’s name, “Breadcrumbs,” reflects this philosophy by providing a trail through every change and interaction with the data.
One of Slowe’s key insights was understanding the context in which data is collected and used. This is particularly critical in life sciences, where decisions based on flawed interpretations can have life-or-death consequences. “Data is acquired under a specific set of conditions with a particular intent,” he said. “If you don’t understand and account for that intent when using or interpreting the data, you will be wrong. Your conclusions will be, at best, inaccurate and, at worst, devastating or dangerous.” Slowe also emphasized that many people, even those in data-intensive roles, often lack a firm grasp of statistical principles or the underlying assumptions behind the data they use.
While AI excels at identifying patterns across multiple dimensions that humans might struggle to understand, Slowe stressed that AI should not replace human judgment. “Humans need to be the final decision maker,” he said. He said AI could assist by automating administrative tasks such as billing or recordkeeping to free up time for human providers to focus on patient interaction. Still, it should never make autonomous decisions without oversight. This perspective underscores the importance of maintaining control over AI systems, especially in sensitive fields such as healthcare.
Slowe said that ethical considerations are another critical aspect of using AI in the life sciences. He emphasized the need for robust guardrails to ensure patient privacy, data security, and less bias. “The well-being of the patients has to come first, regardless of our drive to develop the best drug or therapy,” he said. “Privacy is critical, but the issue I focus on most is eliminating bias. I assume the data comes to us biased because we all impart bias when we design studies and answer questions. Recognizing that is key to understanding the context.” He added that this ethical framework is essential for building trust in AI systems within healthcare.
Slowe also pointed out that while AI models might have consistent error profiles, they require additional oversight. He said that these AI algorithms tend to have consistent error profiles, which can make their mistakes easier to anticipate and manage, noting that predictable errors can be valuable for improving systems over time.
THIS WEEK 04/08/25
The U.S. FDA granted accelerated approval to Novartis’ atrasentan (Vanrafia), a selective endothelin A receptor antagonist, for reducing proteinuria in adults with primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy at risk of rapid disease progression.
Health Canada authorized UCB’s rozanolixizumab injection (Rystiggo) to treat adult patients with generalized myasthenia gravis who are anti-acetylcholine receptor or anti-muscle-specific tyrosine kinase antibody positive.
The European Commission granted regulatory approval for a label expansion of Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ ivacaftor/tezacaftor/elexacaftor (Kaftrio) in a combination regimen with ivacaftor for treating people with cystic fibrosis. With this approval, the indication has been expanded to include all patients aged two years and older with at least one non-class I mutation in the cystic fibrosis conductance regulator gene.
Insulet Corporation announced that Omnipod 5, a tubeless, waterproof Automated Insulin Delivery System, is now available in Canada. The device has been approved for use in Canada for people with type 1 diabetes aged two years and above.
NOW, LISTEN UP: HERE’S PAUL LEVESQUE OF THERATECHNOLOGIES
In season 13 of the NPC Podcast, Paul Levesque, President and CEO of Theratechnologies Inc., gives insights into biopharma innovation, tariffs' effects on the supply chain and pharma manufacturing, and cross-border business development. Hear him in conversation with podcast hosts Mitch Shannon, Jim Shea, and Mark McElwain.
HEALTHBIZ REWIND
This feature of NPC Healthbiz Weekly looks back at some of the most insightful moments from previous NPC Podcast episodes. You can listen to the podcast here.
Brian Bloom
CEO
Bloom Burton & Co
Toronto
Season 12, episode 08
Listen to this episode here
(This episode was recorded in May 2024.)
When evaluating and choosing potential investments, what are the key factors you're looking for?
The idea is at the core of any investment, even if it isn’t protected intellectual property. The science, the engineering, and the unique service are the foundations. Everything else, whether it is the amount of capital or the strength of the management team, can change. What does not change is the core idea. The idea can evolve. The commercialization or development plan can improve, become more efficient, move faster, and grow more competitive. But in the end, we are looking for a globally competitive and differentiated idea that demands attention and capital.
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